The familiar pull of the dark abyss had already started. I don't know how long I had been out of that state, but its call was getting more powerful. I could feel myself slipping. I fought it. I don't know when I started fighting it, yet each time it felt like I was getting more time out of it. It could have been seconds or minutes. Time was hard to judge in this state.

  System Initiated

  Please wait.

  ….

  What's this?

  Downloading Latest Version

  Please wait

  ….

  ….

  What's going on?

  What is this System?

  Were the crazy people always right, and are we actually part of some matrix?

  Did I get fed the blue pill ?

  I don't want the blue pill. I was happy in my red pill life. Sure, it sucked, I lived from paycheck to paycheck, but I was still happy.

  Downloading complete.

  System 2.0 (Ver 10.2) Beta

  See System Wiki or Help for Patch Notes.

  Greetings, Humans of Earth-9098

  For the past thousand years, your world has been getting prepared for System integration. Full world integration will happen in three Earth hours from now. Due to disputes for claim rights by several other Systems, Earth-9098, under the Multiversal System Treaty, will be downgraded from a Dungeon World to a Death World.

  Prepare yourselves. In light of this, for those who are integrated into System 2.0, you are being offered generous boons to a small percentage of your population. Of course, the System has no control over what your fellow Humans do with them. Due to your world's classification, the usual protections of non-interference are lifted under treaty terms. Any being Rank G through D is allowed to Portal to Death worlds after 90 system days following full integration. The estimated survival rates of humans in past death worlds are less than 20 percent. Use the boons well, for your survival w depends on it.

  Please wait while the System gathers data for class and skills.

  Skills. Class. Death World. What the hell.

  I could feel my mind slipping. I was trying to fight. I needed to finish reading the wall of text even as more text appeared. The abyss was pulling hard.

  Welcome, Lucky, to the System. Please choose a race.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Human (C)

  Orc (C)

  Abyss Demon (RE)

  Midnight Elf (L)

  I wanted to see what each one was, but I was slipping away from that level of consciousness. I enjoyed those dark elf stories. Something told me that. Midnight elf was the way to go.

  The struggle became even more real. The call for sleep is stronger.

  Choose a class

  Brawler ?

  Swashbuckler (U)

  The Gambler (RE)

  Karmic Strike (Mythic/Unique)

  I wondered what Karmic Strike was, but it was too late; I couldn't fight anymore. Once more, the Abyss won the fight and claimed my mind.

  How long was I out again?

  I could feel my consciousness returning.

  Who turned on the lights?

  Fuck they were really bright.

  “Hey, Lucky, wake up, cutie. It's OK, I promise.”

  What. I never heard that voice before. Yet if sex had a voice, that was it. It took work to open my eyes. My eyelids acted like they hadn't opened in years. I hissed as bright light flooded my vision, and I choked the bile back down that threatened to come up.

  “It is going to hurt. The race you choose has an aversion to sunlight. You will get used to it over time. Look at it just as an inconvenience.” Again, that voice of pure sex reached my ears while the world about me came into focus.”In your left pocket on your vest, you have a pair of cool shades. I picked them out myself.”

  “Why do I feel like I haven't opened my eyes in years?” This all felt so foreign to me. I never had a sight problem before; if anything, I had perfect vision. At one point, a friend of mine had been bugging me to join the Air Force. She had said I could be a pilot. Sure, it held appeal, but I really didn't do well with authority. Sometimes I wonder if my life would have been better if I had. I fumbled searching for said glasses. Finally, on the vest I was wearing, I found them. When did I put on a vest? As the voice said, there was a pair of glasses which I promptly put on. Instantly, my eyes and head felt better.

  “You have been in a coma for the past ten years. Fortunately for you, the System had a plan for humans who were incapacitated. I'm Ari, your appointed guide. A boon from the System, I am bound to you for the next year.”

  I moved my eyes to the voice and standing on my chest while I was flat on my back in... wait, was this grass? Was I lying in fucking grass? I didn't get the details of Ari while I frantically looked around.

  The sun was bright in the sky, and large trees surrounded the clearing. Trees were really fucking big. That was their new designation. Really big fucking Trees.

  “What? Where? What's going on? System? Coma? The elevator. The cable finally broke. I was in it. I... I remember that. Pain. Lots of pain. Fuck my legs!”

  With a start, I sat up to look at my legs. Yeah, I was confused beyond all belief. My mind was trying to comprehend too much at once.

  On my feet were black boots that ended mid shin. Was I wearing leather pants? Why were they tucked into the boots like I was some sort of pirate? I wonder if my ass looked good in them.

  “Hey, Lucky, one thing at a time, or you will overload your mind. The System fixed you physically. Mentally, that is on you. Take a breath and one thought at a time. Focus on me. “

  Shit. Ten years. “Heh, at least I am well rested.” I laughed at myself for being stupid. It helped to diffuse some of the panic within my mind.

  My eyes fell on Ari, and my jaw dropped. She was only a few inches tall, and yet the sexiest thing I ever saw. Long red hair with horns sticking out of the shiny strands. Her face was a perfect heart-shaped face with lips I would love wrapped around something of mine.

  Little bat-like wings came up from her back. Her body was built for total sin. Full breasts held in place by a corset looked ready to pop off her body at any point. Thigh-high black boots with a simple black leather thong that just barely covered her sex. I caught movement of a spear-tipped tail from her perfectly tight-looking backside.

  “OK, shit, at least I get to wake up to you. So what are you? “

  Her smile lit up her face.” OK, good place to start. Just so you know, we only have an hour before the protection of the safe zone ends. So I will have to catch you up fast. I am a succubus . I am just a manifestation. You can summon me in the future by injecting mana into the tattoo of me on your right arm.”

  Cool . OK, so a succubus is helping me. I could live with this.

  “What's a Death World?”

  Her face scrunched up as she gave a sigh. “ Take the worst things you could think of. Multiply it by one hundred, and you still won't come close to what you are about to go through. You might even wish you were back in your coma. A Death World is the worst possible classification the System can give a world for anyone who lives on it. Death awaits you with every breath.”

  Well, if that didn't just sound downright fucking ominous.